Messengers of the GospelSýnishorn

The Good News of the Old Testament

The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

(Psalm 34:22 NIV84)

Psalm 34 was written nearly 1,000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet, in the fifteen words of verse twelve, we have the summation of the New Testament gospel— the good news. “No one”, and the Word of God means no one, will be condemned who takes refuge in Him. These words sound similar to those of John 3:16.

This Psalm tells the story of the time David experienced the redemptive heart of the Lord when he could not redeem himself from his troubles. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. King Saul was trying to kill him. The fugitive David fled from Saul before he could be found and, driven by fear, made some choices that were not going to save the day. (Recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10-15) Thankfully, he chose to seek the Lord, who answered him (Psalm 34:4-6). His choice was to take refuge in the Lord and be redeemed. The alternative was to reject the redemptive presence of the Lord, depend on his own abilities to resolve his problems, and be condemned to his troubles. David chose wisely.

The Hebrew words for redeem and condemn are defined in this verse in the same manner as you would expect when reading these words within the New Testament. Psalm 34:22 says, “The Lord redeems the soul of His servants.” This is the good news (gospel) of the Old Testament. The Lord desires to redeem, not to condemn. It has always been this way because He is a redeeming God.

Beginning with the first few chapters of Genesis, we can read of the Lord's faithful love and redemptive heart. Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah, Esther, Ruth, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all experienced the Lord's redemptive love. In the lives of these men and women, He entered into their personal life stories and did for them what they could not do for themselves. On eighteen occasions, the Lord in the Old Testament is called the Redeemer. His redemptive heart would more fully unfold in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The last verse of Psalm 34 is the anthem of God's heart for all generations. The last sentence of the last verse is an amazing, grace-filled declaration to all generations of every age. No one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him. Regardless of their personal history, their lifestyle, their poor choices, or their previous willful stand against God and His ways, no one will be condemned if they take refuge in Him. To take refuge in Him means to retreat from your own ways and turn to God. As you surrender your heart and soul to Him, you will also find that He stands ready to redeem.

Reflection:

Are you in need of redemption? Redemption for your soul? Or redemption because of a situation that has occurred in your story? If so, prayerfully read verses four through seven and fifteen through twenty-two and turn those verses into faith-filled declarations and prayers of surrender. Take refuge in Him and always remember, The Lord redeems his servants…